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What has the world come to? How has the music industry, specifically the rap/
hip-hop industry, in the 21st century world been allowed to use themes that include, but are not limited to, murder, drugs, sex, rape, misogyny, suicide, and more? What are the effects of such content found in contemporary, 21st century, rap and how does this affect listeners and future generations to come? Rap in the 21st century is no longer constructed the same way as it used to be. In the past, hip-hop had special meanings, like fighting for human rights, cheerful life experiences, testimonials of rough childhoods, and stories common people can relate too; that is what made rap popular and appealing. Listening to experiences and feelings expressed in hip-hop had listeners saying “That’s so true,” or “That’s exactly how I feel.” That same appeal is used in the
21st century however in a totally different contest. Rap played on the radio in the 21st century is all about partying, doing drugs, and sex, while songs off the radio are even worse with themes that include violence, suicide, harder drugs, rape, and prison. One can argue that these themes are in fact real life experiences, however, the chances that any of these situations would actually happen to an average person is ridiculous.
Another can argue that the themes of the present are the same as they were in the past, but to a much more explicit extent and this rationalization allows such content to become acceptable in 21st century society. !
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This essay will investigate the absurdity of messages and content of
contemporary rap and how they affect morals of listeners and future generations of
musicians and listeners. For example, most contemporary rappers talk about all the girls in clubs that are dressed so shamelessly and provocatively and having an endless amount of sex with them while drinking an endless amount of alcohol and smoking an endless amount